Coming home and seeing your house flooded with water can be a devastating and daunting experience for you. You can be away from your home for days, weeks, and even months. Now imagine coming home after a relaxing vacation to find that your home is filled with water, or your living room ceiling is collapsed due to water.
Water damage can be costly for insurance companies and you. Leaks in pipes wastes water, causes damage to the walls and encourages the growth of unwanted mold and mildew.
A leak generally indicates that one of your home systems has a problem. Normally the early signs of a leak are the sudden loss of water pressure, damp patches appearing on the floor, wall, or ceiling.
The major issue that you can face is detecting where the leak actually is because you cannot see most of the pipework in the home, and you may not know where the leak might be present.
There are different types of leaks that cause damage to the house, including
Non-Damaging Leak- This type of leak does not cause much damage but is likely to cost you more time, energy, and money to resolve.
Minimal Damage- Minimal damage leaks seem like a small issue, but they can cause further damage in the future if left untreated. These leaks normally stay unnoticed, such as leak in the wall. Occasionally, these occur near dangerous areas of your home – such as near your water heater.
Significant Damage- This is the worst leak category as these leaks cause severe harm to your home. These leaks are easy to identify as your house is flooded in water. They include the bursting of water pipes, which require immediate attention. If this is leak you are seeing, be sure to turn off your main shut-off valve.
Sources of Leak
A great way of protecting your home from future leaks is to understand the situation that can cause water leaks and the methods to repair small leaks in time to avoid major issues in the future.
Toilet leaks are a common issue and considered as one of the worst leaks in the house due to unsanitary problems.
Toilets can loosen from their seating resulting in leaks. When the water from the toilet leaks, it can also leave a pool of water under the unit.
Pipes under sinks can also become damaged, resulting in leakage and damage to the floor or cabinets.
In some cases, the pipes in the wall are not secured and can be damaged during normal use.
Detection of Leakage
Early detection of water leaks can save you money, energy, and time. There are many signs that can help you detect the leak.
Some leaks are obvious, and you can easily reveal the source of the problem, while some leaks are deep inside the walls and not easy to detect.
If you cannot find any apparent sign of a water leak, you can determine it through the water meter. First, turn off the main water shutoff valve to prevent water from going into the house, then check the meter to see if the dial is still moving. If the dial moves, there is a leak in the supply line outside the house, and if it does not move, then the leak will be inside the house.
Moisture-related leaks can damage other systems in the house resulting in severe damage, which can be extremely time-consuming to repair. Some of the leaks can be repaired by yourself, while for some, you need to call professionals.
Call for Professional Help
A plumbing leak can have serious outcomes and can lead to many problems, including mold growth, unpleasant odors, rotting of walls, ceiling, and floor.
Other signs are the peeling of paint on the wall and damp patches’ appearance on the ceiling. It doesn’t matter if the leak is big or small, you must take immediate action to handle the leak to protect your home.
Veteran Air and Plumbing has a team of experts who can deal with all your plumbing problems and provide you with efficient solutions. Call us today 941-404-1788 if you suspect a leak in your home.
